Jessica Lawson school trip death: Family in France

Jessica Lawson died while on a school trip to France

The family of 12-year-old Jessica Lawson, who died on a school trip to France, are in the country in order to return her body home.

Jessica, a pupil at Wolfreton School in Hull, fell into a lake near Meymac in the Massif Central region on Tuesday.

Her father said he wanted to "get her back home to be remembered forever".

French radio reports say Jessica became trapped under an overturned pontoon while swimming. A post-mortem examination is set to take place later.

Writing on Facebook, Jessica's father Antony said: "This only happens to other people! Yesterday we became those 'other people' we lost our beautiful loving and kind daughter Jessica in tragic circumstances in France."

He said she was "Mum's baby girl" and "Dad's birthday girl", adding: "We all love you and miss you. All our love forever and ever. You will always be with us Mum and Dad and Polly and Hannah."

Jessica was one of 24 students on a five-day trip to the Club Correze adventure centre.

It is thought the pontoon overturned while she and a group of other children were jumping from it.

She was taken to hospital in Limoges after the incident but died on Wednesday.

Her sister Polly Lawson, who has also travelled to France with the family, wrote on Facebook: "We are in France doing everything we can to get her back into the country. All of your thoughts are appreciated at this time.

"Remember who she was not who she could have been, it is important we respect and cherish the memories we had with her."

Jessica was airlifted from the Triouzoune lake in Liginiac

Her other sister Hannah Davison said: "We are all heartbroken and devastated. Jess was the most beautiful and outgoing girl and I am proud to be her sister.

"I will live my life to the full just like she would have done. I love you angel. Forever."

Mike Furbank, the head of children and young people, education and schools at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "Our priority at the moment is getting the party home and offering all the pupils, staff and wider school community as much support as we possibly can."

Head teacher Dave McCready described Jessica as a delightful student who would be "sorely missed" by the whole school.

Mr McCready added: "She was a bright girl who applied herself in all lessons and as a consequence she was well liked by staff who found her a pleasure to have in their class.

"Jessica was popular with students and staff alike, her attendance was excellent and her tutor commented on Jessica's recent report about her willingness to get to know other students and work with them."

Counselling is being offered to staff and pupils at Wolfreton School, head teacher Dave McCready said

Reporting from outside the hospital in Limoges, BBC Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson said Jessica was one of a number of children swimming in the lake after the end of the day's scheduled activities.

She said: "Local sources have said they were jumping off a pontoon, the pontoon overturned and it was then that Jessica was found to be missing.

"One of the lifeguards did manage to revive her by the side of the lake and she was brought here and she survived until just a few hours before her parents arrived to see her."

'Balance the benefits'

Jessica and the rest of the group left for France on 18 July and had been due to return home on Thursday.

Steve Scott, managing director of trip organiser Activ4, said the group were swimming after activities scheduled by adventure camp staff had concluded.

The adventure centre, according to its website, has been operating for about 25 years and specialises in activities such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing and boarding as well as climbing, mountain biking and orienteering.

An investigation has been opened to establish whether the resort was negligent.

Steve Lenartowicz, chair of the Outdoor Education Adviser Panel told the BBC's Today programme that statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents show that on average one pupil a year dies during activities on school trips.

He said: "Now that one pupil is too many, obviously, but there are 114 who die in road transport accidents, there are 24 who die in fires, and we've got to balance the benefits against the risks.

"There are so many benefits to young people getting involved in sporting activities, in outdoor education; health benefits, benefits to developing their confidence and character and so on and while obviously one accident is too many, we really need to make sure we understand those benefits as well as the risks."